The Rancher's Doorstep Baby

“Rachel…” he said, but she didn’t answer. He finally reached out and touched her shoulder. She jerked up with a gasp.

“Cole,” she whispered in a husky voice. Their gazes locked and he wanted to absorb the sadness he saw in those depths.

“You were having a nightmare.”

She brushed back her long, wavy hair with a trembling hand. “Oh God, I was dreaming that Sarah came home. She was pregnant, but Father threw her out. I was running after her…begging her not to leave.” Her lips quivered as she fought for control. “Oh, Cole, I can’t believe it. She’s gone. I’d always hoped she’d come back.”

The dim light didn’t hide her anguish. “She might have. But it was Sarah’s choice, Rachel. She chose to leave and you chose to stay on the ranch. You can’t punish yourself for something you didn’t have any control over.”

She drew a shaky breath. “I wish it could have been different.”

“There are things we all wish could be different, but wishing doesn’t make it so.”

“I never got to tell her I loved her.”

Rachel Hewitt was a strong woman, but the past two days would knock the strongest person down. He finally pulled her into his arms and inhaled her soft fragrance.

He wanted desperately to give her strength, but he didn’t have any to spare. All he could manage was human contact, which he needed as much as she did. He caressed her back as he pressed a soft kiss on top of her head.

“It’s going to be all right,” he lied. His hands continued to move over her. The action seemed to calm her. He touched her hair, smoothing it back from her tearstained face.

“You don’t know,” she said. “Before Sarah left, I said so many awful things to her. I was jealous. She was so pretty. I was just…plain. She had everything and she was leaving me with Father.”

“Oh, Rachel, you could never be cruel on purpose and don’t ever say you’re plain.”

She raised her face to his, her eyes wondrous, making his pulse race. Before he knew what he was doing, he bent down and touched his mouth to hers, telling himself it was to reassure and comfort her.

She sucked in a tiny breath as he caressed her lips, tasting her softness, her sweetness. Her fingers raised to his chest and the contact seared his skin. He pulled her against his body and deepened the kiss. His tongue teased the seam of her lips open and Rachel whimpered. More heat surged through him.

It had been so long…so long since he’d wanted anyone, craved any closeness on a physical level. But Rachel was exactly the kind of woman he couldn’t get involved with. She wasn’t a one-night stand. She’d made him feel…too much. No, he couldn’t go through that again. He broke off the kiss and saw her eyes glazed with desire.

“Cole…” She spoke his name so intimately, as if they’d already been lovers.

He shivered and fought to keep his body in control. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I was out of line.” He started to get up, but she refused to let him go.

“Please,” she whispered, “don’t leave me.”

Cole froze. He had to get out of there, but seeing Rachel’s panic, he couldn’t move. He of all people knew what it was like to need someone.

Without a word, he drew the blanket over her, then he laid on top and cradled her against him. He held her until he felt her go slack in his arms. She had fallen asleep. He smiled, then eased her off his chest. He started to lay her down on the bed when she tightened her hold.

“Please…stay,” she whispered, sleepily. “Just for a little while.”

He bit back a groan. “Okay, Rachel…I won’t leave you,” he murmured, then stretched out next to her and drew her to his side, her head resting against his shoulder. Maybe together, holding each other, they could keep the demons at bay. For a short time anyway.

CHAPTER THREE

RACHEL came awake slowly. Her head hurt as if she’d been hit between the eyes. Then the memories of last night slowly started coming back to her. The news of Sarah’s death, the trip to San Antonio, her niece, Cole’s kiss, his holding her in his arms…

She blinked, and opened her eyes to find the man asleep beside her in bed. Not just beside her, but with his hand draped over her…She froze, and forced herself to breathe as her skin under his palm began to tingle. Her heart started to race.

Oh my, what do I do?

She lay motionless and listened to Cole’s soft snores. He didn’t seem to be too bothered by the situation. Maybe he was used to waking up with a woman. Of course he had, Cole was a good-looking man.

Rachel had never woken up next to a man. She’d dreamed of someone like Cole Parrish coming into her solitary life. But she’d never be the kind of woman who could make him stay.

She closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his strong arms around her, but knew she couldn’t keep depending on this man. He’d done so much to help her already. Neither one of them needed to add to this already complicated situation.

She tried to slip toward the edge of the bed to get away. It didn’t work. Cole murmured something incoherent and pulled her closer, tucking his nearly naked body behind hers.

She bit back a gasp, unable to ignore the sudden warmth that shot through her. Then, as if that weren’t enough, his hand began to move under the sheet, first over her stomach, then down to her hips and back up again, returning to her breasts, sending tingles over her skin as his fingers gently pinched her nipple. She closed her eyes, lost in the sudden pleasure. Heaven help her, she wanted to know what it felt like to be caressed by this man, but her common sense finally returned and she pushed his hand away.

“Cole,” she murmured his name and sat up.

“What?” He jerked up into a sitting position, rubbed his eyes and looked at her. “Rachel? Oh God.” He shot off the bed as if it had caught fire. “Please tell me I didn’t do anything—”

“No,” she quickly interrupted him. “Absolutely not.”

He looked relieved and that disappointed her. “I’m so sorry,” he began. “I meant to leave after you fell asleep, but I guess I drifted off…”

“I think we were both pretty tired…” she said, filling her gaze with unbelievably broad shoulders, a naked chest covered with a dusting of dark hair that swirled down his flat stomach and dipped into the open button on his jeans. Her attention quickly moved up to his face.

He started to pace. “That doesn’t give me the right to take advantage.”

“You didn’t,” she insisted. “Now, let’s stop talking about it.” Rachel stood, then quickly realized she had on her nightgown. “We should go back to the hospital.”

Their gazes locked, his silver gaze had a sexy sleepy look. “I’ll be ready in fifteen,” he said.

She glanced away. “I need to shower.”

He nodded. “Just knock on the door when you’re ready to go. We’ll have some breakfast, then head to the hospital.”

He walked through the connecting door and shut it behind him. Rachel let out a breath and wondered if she’d ever be able to look at Cole, and not think about his kiss…his touch.

He’d kissed her. The one and only other time she’d been kissed, she’d been thirteen and Billy Michaels nearly chickened out. With the less than satisfying end result, she’d wished he had. Rachel never got another chance to repeat the experience. Her father refused to allow any boys out to the ranch. Later on she’d never had the time to even think about a man in her life.

Cole Parrish was different. From the first time he’d arrived at the Bar H, he’d made her feel things. With one glance, one piercing look, her body came alive. And his kiss last night made her desire things…womanly things.

She shook her head, and walked into the bathroom. She didn’t have the time to think about a man in her life.

Now all she had time to think about was making a go of the ranch, and making a home for her niece. The thought of little Hannah Sarah Hewitt brought a wistful smile to her face. She had a family now.

“Just keep supporting her head,” the nurse instructed.

“Oh…she’s so tiny,” Rachel said, gazing down at the tiny bundle in her arms.

Cindy, the pediatric nurse, grinned. “They grow pretty fast. Your niece here has already taken her first bottle this morning. And by those sucking sounds, I’d say she’s ready again.” Cindy led Rachel to the rocking chair. “Get comfortable.”